Trump’s close ties to Nvidia billionaire under scrutiny amid ‘Chinese spy’ probe

President Donald Trump's close bond with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has come under investigation, following the tech giant's claim that Huang may be a victim of a foreign intelligence operation. Huang, a fixture in Silicon Valley and a loyal ally of Trump's, has been at the center of a growing controversy.

For over a year, Huang has been a staunch supporter of Trump's policies, frequently appearing in Washington to champion the administration's agenda. Nvidia has been pushing to sell advanced chips to China, a market crucial for the U.S. AI boom. Yet, US officials have sought to curb China's access to these chips through export controls.

The investigation was sparked by a New York Times report alleging that Huang had a close connection with a Chinese businesswoman believed to have passed sensitive information to China's government. Nvidia's stock plummeted to a seven-month low amid the scandal. Huang reportedly had direct access to Trump, as Huang's full name appeared on the president's phone in December 2025.

Trump met Huang in China on Air Force One in May, marking the first visit by a U.S. president to China in nearly a decade. The two also attended a state dinner together at the White House in September. Nvidia pledged $25 million towards Trump's planned White House ballroom, according to media reports.

The New York Times claimed that Trump was aware of Huang's relationship with the woman, who was allegedly leaking information to China, but opted not to act on the information. The White House and Nvidia have yet to respond to inquiries from Reuters regarding their relationship. Huang's association with Trump has coincided with several positive policy changes for the company.

In April 2025, the administration reversed a plan to restrict Nvidia's exports of certain AI chips to China, after Huang attended a dinner at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. In December 2025, Trump signaled his support for allowing Nvidia to export its H200 processors, its second-best AI chips, to China, while collecting a 25% fee on such sales.

Trump showered Huang with accolades, awarding him the nation's highest honor for scientific achievement in October. The same day, Trump disclosed buying and selling Nvidia stock during the summer, although his spokesperson clarified that such transactions are managed by third-party financial institutions. Asked about the allegations on Sunday night, Trump asserted that Huang was an "honorable guy" and expressed hope for the situation to resolve amicably.